Chavez vows loyalty to Gaddafi

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says his government will not recognise Libya's rebel council as they tighten their grip on the Libyan capital.

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AUGUST 23, 2011) GOVERNMENT TV - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday (August 23) that his government will not recognise Libya's rebel council, saying that the government of Muammar Gaddafi was the only legitimate government of Libya.

"Obama has already said they they would collaborate economically with the new government which of course we do not recognise. We only recognise one government and that is the government that is run by Muammar Gaddafi. This is the government of Libya, there is no other government for us," Chavez said.

"From here we ratify our solidarity with the brotherly Libyan people, that have been aggravated and bombed. I always speak to (Foreign Minister) Nicolas (Maduro) about the situation in Libya, there is a lot of information, but without doubt we are facing the craziness of imperialism," added Chavez.

The Venezuelan Leaders comments came as triumphant rebels seized Muammar Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli after a fierce battle with a loyalist rearguard, but there was no word on the fate of the Libyan leader who vowed again to fight "to the end".

Libya's rebel council has won recognition from more than 30 countries including the United States, Britain, France and Qatar and now looks set to take over the running of the country.